Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Pookey sneezed blood today. Took him to the vet. Ran the battery of blood tests, etc., and bottom line is it looks like he may have a tumor (their best guess without invasive tests, etc.) He started out fine this morning and he had a nose bleed and is currently breathing snuffly (like he is snoring almost). All of his blood work comes back fine, indicating not a cold, etc... We are treating initially for a sinus infection with an antibiotic, on the off chance it could be that, but everyone's gut says it is probably a tumor due to his age. If his blood/breathing doesn't improve in the next 24-48 hours, I'll start him on a steroid which should shrink the tumor that it likely is. I'll start him on a high dose then lower it gradually to an every-other-day deal. Stanley had what they thought was a brain tumor and took steroids for a couple years and it kept it under control with little side effect. Maybe Pookey will be lucky and steroids will help him. I won't let him suffer. I hope we can control it. This is kind of sudden with the vet mentioning a couple weeks ago how healthy he was for his age. A tumor wouldn't necessarily show on blood work (it still doesn't).

He seems OK right now, other than congested breathing.
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

GLOWS for you and Pookey. I know that you will do what is best for him whatever and whenever that may be. Give him a snuggle and a kiss between the ears from me
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Tessa Foudini, Charlee, Spottie, Buddy, Tuxie, Widdle Attila Sipowitz, Lizzie, Minnie, ET, Mylo,Salem, Wicca, Marmalade, Amelia, Rocket and Turbo (we iz NOT fosters) and the 5 porch kits, Mocha, Tigger, Cali, Torti and Smudge also Riley da goggie and Buddha da baby hamster too
Onyx,Tabitha and Samantha..always in our hearts & together again//Fly free Penny 12/12/07, always in our hearts...ShyRaven 11/17/09
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

Thank you.
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

I don't want to be overly optimistic, but his nose seems to have cleared up overnight. He was still breathing "congested" when we went to bed, but this morning, his breathing is much better and no more bloody nose (I'd wiped his nose around bedtime and no blood re-occured). They are really leaning heavily towards a tumor due to his age, but we did treat him for a sinus infection (antibiotic shot) and I was to wait and see... If his breathing/bloody nose doesn't clear up by Friday or Saturday, I am to start the steroids on the assumption of tumor. So far, so good this morning (but it might be a temporary reprieve). I'll post if something changes over the weekend, but it might just be a sinus infection... (The vets did warn the bloody nose could come and go with a tumor).

I do know when Stanley had what they thought was a brain tumor (dizzy not bloody nose), low dose steroids controlled it very well for a couple years until he passed away (from kidney disease vice tumor). So, if it is a tumor with Pookey, hopefully steroids will shrink and control for a good while. Otherwise, his blood counts are very good for his age (18).
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

I am GLOWING for a plain old sinus infection and for him to be the fine and dandy old man that he is
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Tessa Foudini, Charlee, Spottie, Buddy, Tuxie, Widdle Attila Sipowitz, Lizzie, Minnie, ET, Mylo,Salem, Wicca, Marmalade, Amelia, Rocket and Turbo (we iz NOT fosters) and the 5 porch kits, Mocha, Tigger, Cali, Torti and Smudge also Riley da goggie and Buddha da baby hamster too
Onyx,Tabitha and Samantha..always in our hearts & together again//Fly free Penny 12/12/07, always in our hearts...ShyRaven 11/17/09
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

Tammy, I'm sending GLOW for Pookey. I hope that it doesn't turn out to be a tumor, maybe just the sinus. I know that you will do whatever you need to do to help Pookey and keep him comfortable.

Thank you for posting about he new medicine. Neither of my cats has had urinary problems, but it's always good to know about these things in advance. I might find it useful in the future.

Ellen

So far, so good w/Pookey. Everything is normal. Just the one lengthy bloody nose/breathing incident Wednesday afternoon. Maybe it was just dry nose/sinus infection/burst vessel that caused the nose bleed... Two vets talked to me when I took him in. One wanted to treat for sinus/dry nose first (but did mention it could be tumor), the other was saying it was probably a tumor due to age... "18 year old cats don't have a nose bleed without it being a tumor..." We'll see. Unfortunately, "his" cat expert vet is on holiday break. I need a few more days without another nose bleed, then I'll relax my worry on tumor.

You'll like this - the vet that isn't jumping straight to tumor gave him an antibiotic shot and has me giving him saline nose drops about 3 times a day for a few days to keep his nasal passages moist. Imagine how fun it is to give a cat nose drops, LOL. He's actually pretty good, like a rag doll... It just takes a couple seconds. But, you'd lose your arm with some cats/dogs, LOL!

So, unless you hear back from me, everything is perfectly normal with him... I won't post another update unless there is a problem...
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

I guess some vets are just like some human docs. They don't pay attention to the elderly, just assume that it is cancer and go on. Sounds like Pookey is just fine and that is what is important
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Tessa Foudini, Charlee, Spottie, Buddy, Tuxie, Widdle Attila Sipowitz, Lizzie, Minnie, ET, Mylo,Salem, Wicca, Marmalade, Amelia, Rocket and Turbo (we iz NOT fosters) and the 5 porch kits, Mocha, Tigger, Cali, Torti and Smudge also Riley da goggie and Buddha da baby hamster too
Onyx,Tabitha and Samantha..always in our hearts & together again//Fly free Penny 12/12/07, always in our hearts...ShyRaven 11/17/09
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

Thank you for your encouragement. I do so hope you are right. I can't quite let my guard down yet -- need a few more days with everything perfectly normal. I sent a note to KitKat for her thoughts -- I would think a tumor would present itself again pretty soon (symptoms) if it was pressing on something to start the bleeding in the first place...
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

Hi Tammy,

I'm so sorry that I haven't been around much lately. I am in the process of moving and you know how crazy that can be! Anyway most of the main stuff has been taken care of with the new place so I can relax a bit now.

Pookey, at his age, is certainly at high risk for a tumor, but older kitties can get small benign growths like polyps also. I have seen this kind of thing many times. Blood vessels also become more fragile with age and break more easily.

As you know, this thing with Pookey can go either way but I have to say that I am encouraged after reading this thread. I will certainly keep him in my thoughts and prayers, and you also! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I will find out what you need to know.

One more thing......sometimes a nasal smear can be helpful in these cases. If Pookey has a nasal discharge again, that might be something to consider. It can be interesting to see what kind of cells are present under a microscope.

Take Care, and please give Pookey a hug from me

PHKitkat

Hi KitKat!

Thanks for posting during such a busy time -- moving during the holidays!!! I am glad you are moved and now settling in. I helped friends load a moving van on Christmas Eve.

I am getting more encouraged as days pass by without the bloody nose returning. He's on the antibiotic for 14 days and I give him saline nose drops 3-4 times a day.

I should note that he sleeps right under the furnace/air vent 90% of the day. He doesn't like it in the bedroom at night with me for long since I put a humidifier in there for my dry nose/skin about a month ago. The cool air from the humidifier drops the temp in the bedroom and has a slight breeze from the fan...

I guess my main question is, if it is a tumor, shouldn't it show up again pretty soon? If it had grown enough to press on something, wouldn't I see that again soon? I kind of want to know if I can let my guard down some in a couple weeks if there hasn't been a reocurrance (I have steroids on hand in the event it shows up strongly). My vet is back this upcoming week, she is a geriatric cat specialist, so I will probably call/see her before I start the steroids, anyway, at this point. She was out last week when the nosebleed showed up...

What do you think/see from your experience. Wouldn't a tumor show itself again pretty soon? It would be large enough to start the initial problem...

I'll remember the nasal smear if it shows again -- I don't think they went that far when I took him in the other night (they did run a full blood panel, etc., and nothing really showed itself).

Thanks and relax some -- boxes don't have to all be unpacked immediately. (I say this, but when I move, I try to get it set up and some order fairly quickly.)
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Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

Hi Tammy!

In my experience, nasal tumors and oral tumors both grow very quickly in cats. So, yes, you can relax a bit if you don't see any additional bleeding soon!

I'll keep sending GLOW your way.....

Take Care,

PHKitkat